12-string guitar tuning · D G D G B D in pairs

12-string Open G tuner.

D G D G B D in pairs: an open G major chord. Tune with your mic or by ear, at A4 = 440 or any pitch you need.

Tuner · Any tuning

Tune your 12-⁠string.

Pluck a string and the meter shows how far off it is. Tap any string to hear it at its true pitch and tune by ear.

  • Pick any instrument and tuning
  • Shift it down or up by half steps
  • Set A to anything: 440, 432, 442…

D G D G B D · pairs

The sound never leaves your device.

Keys: Space start or stop · ← → half step · ↑ ↓ A (Shift: bigger steps) · 1–9 string · M mode · R hear · − + volume · L copy link · Esc done

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Tap Start, then pluck any string.

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Strings · tap to hear

12-string guitar · Open tuning

About 12-string Open G

Strum the open strings and you hear a G major chord: D2·D3 G2·G3 D3·D4 G3·G4 B3·B3 D4·D4. An open tuning on a 12-string rings twice: the four low pairs add the same chord an octave up, so slide lines and big strummed chords come out fuller still.

Open G on a 12-string is a classic of folk-rock rhythm and slide: a ringing G major chord with octave sparkle on top. Three pairs come down a whole step, so the neck carries less pull than in standard.

Also written: DGDGBD

How to get there from standard

  • String 6: lower a whole step (E2 → D2)
  • String 6 octave: lower a whole step (E3 → D3)
  • String 5: lower a whole step (A2 → G2)
  • String 5 octave: lower a whole step (A3 → G3)
  • String 4: no change (D3)
  • String 4 octave: no change (D4)
  • String 3: no change (G3)
  • String 3 octave: no change (G4)
  • String 2: no change (B3)
  • String 2 unison: no change (B3)
  • String 1: lower a whole step (E4 → D4)
  • String 1 unison: lower a whole step (E4 → D4)

Quicker from 12-string Drop D: lower Pairs 5 and 1 a whole step.

12 strings · 6 pairs

Notes and frequencies

12-string Open G: notes and frequencies in Hz at three common A4 references
StringNoteA = 440A = 432A = 442
6D273.4272.0873.75
6 octaveD3146.83144.16147.50
5G298.0096.2298.44
5 octaveG3196.00192.43196.89
4D3146.83144.16147.50
4 octaveD4293.66288.33295.00
3G3196.00192.43196.89
3 octaveG4392.00384.87393.78
2B3246.94242.45248.06
2 unisonB3246.94242.45248.06
1D4293.66288.33295.00
1 unisonD4293.66288.33295.00

The tuner on this page works at any A4 from 300 to 600 Hz, and can shift the whole tuning by half steps or fine cents.

Measured

How the tuner hears D2

Pair 6 of 12-string Open G holds D2 and its partner D3, 73.42 and 146.83 Hz. The thick D2 is the hard one for a phone: in our phone-mic model its fundamental arrives 6 dB quieter, yet it read within 1 ¢; D3 reads like any guitar string.

How the tuner listens →

String tension

Strings and tension

Pairs 6, 5 and 1: about 21% less tension (approx., same strings, same scale length).

Most players keep their usual set for this. If the low pair feels floppy or buzzes, go one gauge heavier on its thick string only.

Check string tension → String by string, with your own set and scale length.

Neighboring tunings

Higher tunings first. Each rung moves every pair of 12-string Open G by a half step; in the tuner, the ◂ ▸ arrows on the tuning chip do the same.

  1. Open AOpen pairs ring an A chord. Notes: E A E A C sharp E
  2. Open A♭Open pairs ring an A♭ chord. Notes: E flat A flat E flat A flat C E flat
  3. Open GThis pageOpen pairs ring a G chord. Notes: D G D G B D
  4. Open F♯Open pairs ring an F♯ chord. Notes: C sharp F sharp C sharp F sharp A sharp C sharp
  5. Open FOpen pairs ring an F chord. Notes: C F C F A C

Questions

What are the notes of 12-string Open G?

Pair by pair, from String 6 to String 1: D2·D3 G2·G3 D3·D4 G3·G4 B3·B3 D4·D4. At A4 = 440 Hz the lowest string is 73.42 Hz and the highest is 392.00 Hz.

What chord do the open strings of 12-string Open G make?

A G major chord, pair by pair: D2·D3 G2·G3 D3·D4 G3·G4 B3·B3 D4·D4. A bar across all six pairs moves it: C major at fret 5, D major at fret 7, each with its octaves on top.

Can I use 12-string Open G at A = 432 or 442?

Yes. Tap the A 440 chip and choose 432 or 442, or type any value. The thick string of Pair 6 is 72.08 Hz at A = 432 and 73.75 Hz at A = 442, and its octave partner twice that.